Folding car-step.



J. A. MAYNARD. FOLDING CAR STEP. APPLICATION FILED Q01"- 9. I913.

Patented Aug. 10,1915.

"M awma JOSEPH A. MAYNARD, OF RAVENA, NEW YORK.

FOLDING CAR-STEP.

V Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 9, 1913. Serial No. 794,232.

To all whom, it may concern Be it known that I, JOSEPH A. MAYNARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ravena, in the county of Albany and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Car-Steps, of which the following is a specification.-

This invention relates to improvements in folding car steps and one of the objects of the invention is to operate a folding step by fluid pressure means wherein one movement of the step is effected under fluid pressure and whereby another movement of the step may be effected by gravity.

A further obj ectof the invention is to provide a folding step, in subjacent relation to the lowermost fixed step, the folding step being arranged to pass in overhanging re lation with the lowermost-fixed step and lie wholly within the outeredgethereof so as to avoid the presence of any projecting parts when thestep is folded. H

Further objects and features of the inventionwill-be more fully described in connection with the accompanying drawing'and willibe moreparticularly pointed out and.

("14, pendant from the step 3. This abutascertained in and the'appendedclaims.

In thedrawingz-Figure 1 illustratesthe device of my invention applied to the steps of a passenger coach, looking endwise of the step and illustrating a portion of the operating means in section- Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the lowermost fixed and the subjacent folding step with a portion of. the operating" means omitted, Fig. 3 is an end viewlooking in adirection' opposite from. Fig.,

the direction in which the structure of 1 is viewed.

Like characters of jreference designate similar parts throughout the different figures of the drawing. v

As shown, 1, 2 and 3 designate the fixed steps of a passenger coach arranged in overhanging relation withrespect to each other and mounted upon a support 4. The lower-.

most fixed step 3 is arranged so as not to project beyond or outside of the the coach, which is indicated at'5.

V A folding step is indicated at 6 and when" in anoperative position the same is dis-.

posed in subjacent relation with respect'to the lowermost fixed step 3 and may project outsideof as Well as below the coach 5 so as to facilitate mounting the steps by the H passengers. In Fig. 1 I have shown in dotted lines the position of the step 6 when plane of Patented Aug] 10, 1915.

in a folded or in inoperated position wherein it will be seen that the folded step not only lies wholly within the outside plane of the coach as indicated at 5, but it also overhangs the lowermost fixed'step and lies abreast ofthe outer edge of the next lowermost step 2, so as to effectively obstruct any 7 attempt to enter the coach by means of the step when the folded step is in an inoperative position. A

Referring'to the manner in which the step may be secured to a bracket 9 which is shown anchored to the bottom of the lowermost fixed step 3. The step-supporting arm 7 extends outside of the plane of the end edge ofthe st ep 6 and inwardly under the same to form afoot 10, adapted to be'securedby means such as a screw .11 to the bottomofth'e step 6. The arm 7 v p is provided with an abutment shoulder 12 13 which may be mounted upon a support ment' serves to limit downward movement of the arm 7 so that the same Will be' arrested, at such a point as willdispose the folding a bracket having a pivotor trunnion 1 6 on'which a step-supporting arm 17 is mount- "ed to swlng. The arm' 1-7 is also mounted to swing in'a plane outside of the end ofthe step 3, as indicated in Fig. 2. Said arm 17 is provided with' a foot 18 which extends beneath the step 6 and is adapted to' be fastened to the same by means such as screws I 19. Thearm 17 may be termed the operating step arm by reason of its connection a p ed to cushion against a yielding abutment with operating means whereby the step is" moved into and out of folded positions, and I to distinguish the arm 17 from: the arm 7,

which latter functions simply as the supporting arm.

The operating arm 17 is provided withan extension 20 to which a link 21 is pivotally mounted at one of its ends. 'The other."

end'jof the link 21 ispiv0tally c01i11ected at:

22 t0 a'piston rod 23 of apiston 24; '-The piston 24- is reciprocable in acylinder 25., j adapted to be mounted in any suitable man ner to the step, structure,- as indicated at 26. The piston 24 is actuated by fluid pressure entering through a pipe 27 to move the step into a folded position and b 'y fluidpressure entering through a pipe 28 to move the step from a folded position into an operative'po sition Fluid pressure may be supplied througha pipe 29'through a"suitable valve 30, controllable by a lever indicated at 31.

The device is arranged so that when the piston Q-i is in the full; line position to dispose the step 6 in an operative osition, said piston; 24 will then' be-Iat the upper end of the cylinder and Ipr'ovidea bumper 82 to cushion abutment of" t-he piston 24' in this position. The bumper 32 is provided with a port 33 for passage-"of pressure fluid there'- through.- This-arrangement and constructionnot only serves to neutralize the shock and jarincident to sudden arrest of movement of the parts when the step is being un foldedgbut the bumper 32 also functions to yieldin-gly support the "step 6 and the arra-n'gernent further provides for imparting strain :to'the piston rod and'the link 2 1"in the'direiction of their length and in a manner to cause the same to act as -'strutsup'- porting parts.-

It willbe seen by reference to Fig. 1 that the arms T and 17 are-pivoted and shaped in a manner to cause the "folding step to normally-seek an unfolded-or operative position by gravity so that when it is in an unfolded positioxfithe normal weight "of the step itself will'take upany looseness in the con motion and resist movement of the step out of "an operative-"'position. so' as to pro vide a firmly positioned stepjuponwhich to tread=.- ,Therefo1 e-' while -I"have shown a fluid pressureconnection'28 to' move the pis ton '24 froin* the dotted line :to the full line position, it will rbe"understood"that in a great measure the step itself will move in suchpositibnbyo gravity:- 1 also prefer to cushion abutment of -'the piston 24 when 'arrested" in thed'otted lineposition-andl therefore provide a'bumper*34l-having'a laterally disposedport 35 for 'passage of'pressure fl id: 1J7: o '..'J 1' a s: ..r

It will be seen from the foregoing disclosure, that Phave provided ineans which spans'the ends of the fixedstep andwhich are disposed inside-0f theouter edge-of the fixed'st-eprfor holding themovable stept'in subj acentoutward relation with respect to thejfixed step? for irztising the movable step intoan-"inoperativ'e position, which is an overhanging '-'position'-=with'-"respect to the outer edge of the fixed step.

lt'willbe seen thatfth fixed step lies in. wardly with respect to thefsideofthe, car and-that when theunovable step is folded. it not pnly liesinwardlyof theifsid'e of the.

car but all operative partslie inwardly from the sideiof tlie ear.

lVhile I have herein shown and described one specificform of my invention, 1 do not wish to be limited thereto except for such limitations as the claims may import.

. I claim:- l. In'afolding car step structure, a fixed istep, a folding step, and fluid pressure means fouo'p'eratiiig the folding step including a' cylinderhaving a yielding bumper head, and a piston movable under pressure to fold said step into an inoperative position and movable by weight of the step against said bumper to support the step in an operated position, substantially as described. 2. In a car step structure, a fixed step, a movable "step, pivoted arms disposed out-' side ofthe ends of the'movable and fixed steps for supporting the movable step in an operative position 'subjacent to and projecting fromthe outside edge of the fixed step I or inoverhangi'ngrelation with and inside of the outsideedge of the fixed step, an

abutment for engageinent with one of said arms to hold the stepf in an operativepositionfafidmeans connectedwith'another of said 'arnisfor moving saichmovable step, substantially as described.

3. In car'step structure, a fixed step, a

.movable step, arms pivotally mounting the movable "step for movement above or below the fixed step, means connected with one of i said arms for moving themova'bl'e step and including a piston" and j'cylinder, and "a .bumper iii the cylinder for limiting movement' of the portthemovable step in an operated position, s ubstantially a's'described. H 4. In a car ste'p istructure, a fixed step, a movably mounted step, fluid pressure means for shifting said movable step intqan in operatiye position "with: respect to the fixed step'fand'a bumper device incorporated in iston in one direction to sup;

said fluid ipre'ssi ir'e means for arresting 'operatio'n thereof upon movement of said mov- 1110 ables'tep nto an operat ve position to support the such p'fositioii, substantially 'as described.

5. In car step structure a fixed step, braclrets' at'eaoh end of said 'step a' supvporting arm pivoted to one of saidb'rackets,

an operating arm pivoted"to the other or saidbrackets, foot portionsiformed on each r l es a e r r lsl leased-sa iwkets' of said airing; an extension formedon said 1 operat ng aijm, a movable 'step fmounted by to swing by the edge of said step, an operating arm similarly pivoted in the other of said brackets and formed with an extension, a piston operable by fluid pressure in either direction, a link connectingv said piston with said extension, a movable step supported by and between said arms, and a bumper device coacting' with said piston to arrest operation thereof upon movement of said movable step'into operative position, substantially as described.

7. In a car step structure, a fixed step, brackets at each end of said step, a supporting arm pivoted in one of said brackets to swing by the edge of said step, an operating arm similarly pivoted in the other of said brackets and formed with an extension, a piston operable by fluid pressure in either direction, a link connecting said piston with said extension, a movable step supported by v and between said arms, a bumper device coacting with said piston to arrest operation thereof upon movement of said movable step into operative position, and a yielding Copies of this patent may be obtained for live cents each, by addressing ative position, fluid pressure means for mov-/,

ing said step by acting upon said extension,

and a bumper device incorporated into said means to arrest operation of said step in such operative position, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signaturetwo witnesses. V JOSEPH A. MAYNARD. Witnesses:

P. C. W IPPLE, WILLIAM BREW'ER.

in presence of the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. 0. V 

